Chapter 46: Digging up Giggs: "Little Long-Haired Dog Running On the Grass"
For the young Giggs, the presence of Ferguson was extremely important. The Manchester United manager, who is also a teacher and a friend, is the most important guide in his career path.
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A landmark event in Ferguson's emphasis on youth training was the persuasion of the club in June 1988 to bring in Torquay United's 17-year-old apprentice Lee Sharpe, with a transfer fee of £200,000 setting a record for an English apprentice.
This is a little bit of a thirst for talent.
At the end of 1986, Ferguson could not wait to start the youth training and recruit new recruits, and he also began to look for new seedlings.
Ferguson accomplished an incomparably important task, which was to personally recruit Giggs.
Giggs was only 13 years old at the time.
Born on 9 November 1973 in Cardiff, Wales, Ryan Giggs was an innate athletic talent, his father and grandfather were athletes, and his own athletic talent was outstanding. Because his parents were separated, Giggs followed his mother to Salford, Manchester. Giggs has been obsessed with football since he was a child, joining the Dean Fc junior football team as soon as he arrived in Salford. There he received careful guidance from coach Schofield, and his football skills improved rapidly, showing amazing ability.
Giggs quickly became a little star in the block, and because of his mastery of a dizzying variety of foot techniques, Giggs even had a lot of fans at the age of 11. His football talent even appeared in newspapers and television, and some reporters began to come to interview, to see Giggs's dexterity and agility, surprised by his ingenious dribbling skills, and all kinds of endless flower work, there is a feeling of "meeting genius", "Giggs's feet can write homework, can draw, can play the piano, so dexterity, almost comparable to hands!" ”
Dean FC football is a satellite club for Manchester City, and Giggs would have joined the Manchester City youth team directly, and his mother also hoped to join Manchester City nearby. But something surprising happened, Manchester City rejected Ryan Giggs's application and Dean FC football team's recommendation, even replying in cold official language: "You have a certain ability, but you still need to continue to observe and evaluate, and you are not suitable for entering our youth training program now." ”
City shut Giggs out, and then-Manchester United manager Atkinson was also recommended, but he thought Giggs was too thin and small to be the standard of a qualified player in his mind.
Fast forward to November 1986, after Ferguson took charge of Manchester United, things changed.
Giggs was the first Bole to appear, and he was Manchester United's scout Wood. Wood again recommended the "soccer prodigy" to Ferguson, met with Ferguson himself, spent a long time describing Ryan Giggs's natural abilities, and brought Ferguson a large package of video materials.
Ferguson was overjoyed, like a treasure. He immediately decided to see the child with his own eyes.
The first meeting was arranged at Manchester United's training ground, and Giggs confidently performed his skills in front of a group of adults. He was so amazing – Ferguson really didn't think that was a football a kid could play!
Ferguson was glad to have found the treasure, "I don't know why Manchester City look down on Giggs, he is so extraordinary, talented, amazing, I can only say that their football is different from what I understand. Years later, when it comes to Giggs being rejected by Manchester City and coming to Manchester United, Ferguson is happy like a fox who has caught a hen.
Giggs was invited to play against the Manchester United Junior team and he happily agreed.
Ferguson sat in his office, looking through the window, feeling Giggs's "miracle-like" performance: extraordinary ball feeling, easy passing, dexterous change of direction, easy shooting. His body movements are like dancing, light, flowing, confident, brave, radiant. He dribbled the ball, he played with defenders, he managed to get into the box with ease, he shot lightly... Giggs enjoys football and constantly uses a variety of techniques to deal with opponents' shovels and fouls, even if he is shoveled down, he will not back down. He was like a butterfly passing through the crowd of people on the guard, and his dexterous movements seemed to be dancing.
Giggs beat the defenders of The Manchester United echelon by a huge margin, scoring a hat-trick with ease.
Ferguson was once again struck by Giggs's dexterity and speed: "At that time, Giggs was like a small long-haired dog galloping on the grass, agility to chase pieces of paper in the wind, full of incredible dexterity, all kinds of unimaginable movements. He combines technique and speed perfectly and fully enjoys the fun of football. His understanding of football goes far beyond that of his contemporaries, absolute talent, and full of courage, he is the most potential, most talented player I have ever seen. ”
"The appearance of Giggs, I think it is a gift from Heaven."
The praise of "most talented" has only appeared twice in Ferguson's 27 years at the helm of Manchester United, and the later one was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United once again invited Giggs to play for Salford Junior and Manchester United Youth, and the final result was undoubted, the Salford boys won 4-3, and Giggs alone beat the entire Manchester United defence. Ryan Giggs couldn't help the team not concede a goal, but was able to beat the opponent's defence without pressure and win for the team.
Ferguson deliberately said to Giggs, "We don't want you now, you beat our youth team!" ”
Giggs was startled at the time, and he later said: "I was scared and didn't realize he was joking. Because I've been rejected once, if United don't want me because of that, I don't know what to do. Fortunately, the old man quickly told me the truth, and he deliberately teased me. ”
How could such a genius miss out? Ferguson didn't even eat, insisted on personally sending Giggs home, and went directly to visit.
Ferguson's visit surprised and delighted Giggs's mother. She quickly felt united's sincerity, as no manager at that top club would spend so much time on a kid unless they really value him.
Ferguson said: "I knew what the best way to get a child was, and during that time I went to their house every week. I would talk to his mother and I would talk to Giggs. I quickly became acquainted with their family and gained the friendship of their whole family. Mum Giggs has no resistance to her child joining Manchester United and she would love for us to see her children often. ”
Ferguson even fulfilled Ryan Giggs' desire to challenge the real masters on the pitch, scheduling a reserve team game that would put him directly against the professionals. It was a real-gun game, with Giggs directly challenging England international Viv Anderson. Giggs shook him down with ease, breaking through his defense like a lightning bolt.
Before the game, Anderson, who was asked not to use super-technical fouls and bully children, thought he could easily cope with Anderson did not mention more humiliation. He ran behind Giggs, eating Giggs's fake moves again and again, only to watch the teenager's back eat dust, breathlessly asking, "Who is this damn kid?!" ”
Norris stood on the edge of the court and shouted, "Boss, hurry up, this guy is not our dish any bigger!" ”
At that time, Giggs was still a child and did not know the psychology of Ferguson. He was playful and treated the game as a light game, and he didn't feel that there was any "conspiracy" in Ferguson's visit to his family, nor did he perceive too many abnormalities. He didn't know that there was never a manager in English football who would personally visit a small child, even the Neville brothers, David Beckham, Scholes, Bart, Savage... None of them ever enjoyed this preferential treatment.
Another afternoon of an appointment to meet came, and Giggs and his friends were still playing outside, forgetting the agreement. When he saw the Mercedes-Benz parked in front of his house, he realized that there were guests coming to the door.
Ferguson said, "Ryan, I've already spoken to your mother. Now it's time to talk to you and we want you to join Manchester United, what do you think? ”
Ferguson was greeted by a moment of silence, and he looked up to find that Giggs was overwhelmed. The little guy was stunned by the news, opening his mouth wide enough to swallow a soccer ball.
Giggs said, "When Ferguson said he wanted to sign me, I was crazy. You know, I was rejected by both Manchester City and Manchester United, thinking I almost lost the ball! ”
Mother Giggs later said: "The days when Lord Fury often came to our house were very 'frightening'. He was so famous, often on TELEVISION, a big man. But he just sat across from you, casually drinking tea and chatting with you, talking to you about how your son was, how could this not make you 'afraid'? How could I refuse their invitation to Ryan? ”
At the end of 1986, Ferguson personally signed a contract with Giggs, and led him into the door of Manchester United with his luxurious Mercedes.
Ferguson said to Giggs in a serious tone: "Here are the best coaches to help you become talented, you just need to train seriously on the pitch." You just have to say to me on the sidelines, and we'll help you solve any difficulties. ”
This year, Giggs has not yet reached the age of 14, and is experiencing the impact of his parents' divorce, and his psychological changes are huge. Ferguson understood very well the impact of family upheaval on a teenager and always gave warm care and careful care.
Giggs later said, "Alex is such a good coach that I feel like I've had the greatest luck of my life to meet him." He can care deeply about you, is a well-meaning listener and will always give you good advice and guidance. He is your elder and keeps you warm and at ease. He knows your parents and has a great relationship with your parents, and he has managed to win over their parents' support to let them know that their children coming to Life at Manchester United is only going to get better, not worse. This made the children willing to play for him – and their parents pushed harder. People always seem to be grumpy when they see him, but I know his warm side at a young age. He is someone we trust and rely on. ”
Giggs said: "I'm actually a Manchester United fan, it's not something I changed my mind when I joined Manchester United. I remember when I was on the Dean FC football team, everyone was asked to wear a Manchester City shirt to train, and there was a time when I was bold enough to wear a red Manchester United shirt to train because I liked Manchester United. Of course I was immediately forced to take off that jersey and scolded severely, but I don't regret it. ”
In this way, Giggs took the first step in the Red Devils' career.